Cover for The Mindset

The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for The Mindset: My Journey From Janitor To Silicon Valley Millionaire In Five Years

Because The Mindset was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.

Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.

IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.

This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.

Vickie Noel

249577
There's nothing special about the title or cover of this book, so I most likely would have skipped it outside the program. After reading the sample, I think I will read further because I want to know how the author became a millionaire at 28. That's my age and I'm still a bit far from that point lol. I also agree that hardship does tend to make one mature quickly. This was evident when he became conscious of the difference between his friends' families and that of his. He equally knew just how far his family was from payday by the type of food they ate, of which I agree that "a child shouldn't have to notice these kinds of things..." I didn't spot any grammatical errors. The OBC review contributed to my interest in the reading the book.

First Ten review added on June 21, 2019, at 4:52 am by Vickie Noel.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Dolor

363055
I read the entire book sample and I wanted to read more, so I decided to read this book even without The First Ten program. The cover, the title and the slogan are catchy. The blurb and the official OBC review had not piqued my interest. The first ten pages talked about the author's past and the situation in his family. The author possessed a strong mindset and motivation which fueled his determination to break the cycle of poverty. According to him, "A great deal of willpower, persistence, and fortitude was involved—and of course, a helping hand from the man upstairs." Here are the errors I noticed:
*lacking necessary comma (,)*
My name is Ace and I am going to tell you the complete story of my journey.

 I had to change my thinking, my attitude, my outlook and my habits.

I’ve learned that motivation is powerful and you should never ignore the fire it can spark within.

For a while growing up, I didn’t understand the actual chaos of my environment and I didn’t know what to think.


*unnecessary comma (,)*
I had no clue about success, because failure and instability were all around me.

Despite the errors, I still wanted to read on. The author is a great storyteller. I don't have any further improvement suggestion for this book. The Mindset by Ace Bowers is an #Inspirational #Memoir about the author's #Lessons in #Life, #Success, and #Business. It is a detailed account of his turbulent and traumatizing childhood and his journey from poverty to wealth after he changed his mindset.

#NonFiction   

First Ten review added on June 21, 2019, at 4:45 am by Dolor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Ekta Kumari

896308
I don't usually read memoirs, so I wasn't looking forward to read this book. However, the official review enticed me to give this book a try, and I'm glad that I did try out the sample. The author's writing is crisp and to the point. I felt really inspired and motivated reading his experiences, and I especially love his outlook on success and failures. I didn't find any error and would rate the book as professionally edited. I'll read the rest of this book as I find the book relatable, realistic, and moving.

First Ten review added on June 21, 2019, at 4:22 am by Ekta Kumari.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

briellejee

309975
Based on the cover and title, I think I wouldn't have sampled the book. I'm not fond of reading non-fiction and memoirs, hence my hesitation to sample this. However, both aspects are simple yet appealing to the right audience. As for the first few pages, I was immediately drawn in. Ace started the story way back when he was a child, seeing his parents struggle and making walls from his friends that can afford things he can't. It wasn't pity or interest that made me want to know more of his life, it was because he made it relatable enough and he is a great storyteller. You could feel the emotions during that time in the bank and in the school. I couldn't help but be drawn in the story as it somehow resonated with mine. As aforementioned, I never liked memoirs; but this one is something unique: not because of the story, but because of the author's writing style. The way he described events briefly yet impactful was what stuck with me. With that said, I will be buying the book. I found no noticeable errors and the official OBC review was persuasive enough to tell me to sample this.

First Ten review added on June 21, 2019, at 3:48 am by briellejee.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Mercelle

204747
Judging by the cover, I wasn't going to read this book, but the OBC review urged me on when it mentioned that the author narrates his story of rags to riches. When I read the first ten pages, I liked that the author admitted that people treat you differently based on how much money you have. Since I noticed no errors, I will conclude that the text underwent professional editing, and I will read the rest of the book because I want to learn more about the author's journey. As it is, there's nothing I would change about the bit I read.

First Ten review added on June 21, 2019, at 2:21 am by Mercelle.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

ritah

236447
Based on the title and genre, I wouldn't have sampled the book because I don't usually go for books in this genre. I read the official review and sampled The Mindset. I like that the the author got to a place where he can share the very things he tried to forget and hide from the world. I also liked that he achieved the success he long thought he wouldn't due the environment he grew up in. I did not find any errors in the pages I read. However, I won't be reading the rest of the book because it's not for me.

First Ten review added on June 21, 2019, at 2:03 am by ritah.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

srividyag1

1186486
The cover page is simple and minimalistic. The title and subtitle clearly say that this is the story of a man's journey from being a janitor to a millionaire. In the sample, the author mentions his story. His childhood was steeped in poverty and they lived from paycheck to paycheck. Then his dad lost his job and they started living with their grandmother. Their only income was unemployment checks. Then they moved to a rented house in Cupertino, and the author's classmates ridiculed him for being poor. The author's words ring honest and true. He has opened his heart and as he mentions in the book, he has revealed things in this book that are obviously painful and embarassing for him. The book seems professionally edited. The writing is engaging and written in a down-to-earth manner. However, since I am not a big fan of nonfiction, I am not going to read this book.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 10:46 pm by srividyag1.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Annelore Trujillo

97769
I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, OBC review, cover, and title. I rarely read non-fiction books, and this memoir didn't seem like one I'd be interested in. After reading the first ten pages, I won't be finishing this book. I expected it to be more of a story of the author's childhood. In a way it was, but it really seemed to be an explanation of certain anecdotes that affected him later in life. For example, he talked about how he still doesn't like to enter banks because he felt ashamed when his mom broke down because they couldn't cash the check. I'm really not one for "rags-to-riches" stories, so this wasn't something that I really got into. It did seem to be professionally edited, and I like the author's style of writing.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 9:49 pm by Annelore Trujillo.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mary WhiteFace

649293
Without the first ten program, I would not have wanted to sample this book. The simplicity of the cover is appealing. The reviews were positive, but I'm not interested in reading a memoir of someone who went from poverty to wealth. Reading the first ten pages did not change my mind, although I have a lot of respect for the author for being brave enough to share his story with the world. One part that impressed me was on page 2: "I had to change my thinking, my attitude, my outlook and my habits. I had to transform myself, especially the way I saw myself,..." By that statement he revealed that he was taking responsibility for his future. He wasn't going to blame anyone one else for what happened in his life, even though he had a very rough childhood. The book seemed to be professionally edited. I have no suggestions for improvements. There was an OnlineBookClub review which did not influence my decision. I am not drawn to reading a memoir at this time, so I will not be reading this book.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 7:42 pm by Mary WhiteFace.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

unamilagra

1197956
Before sampling this book, I would probably not have picked it up because I'm pretty burned out on self-help books right now. After reading the first ten pages, I really enjoyed the author's conversational tone and the way he told me about his childhood with no sugar-coating. I could feel what he felt as a child who had to grow up poor. That said, I still do not plan to read this book as I am not in the market for this sort of thing right now. However, I hope this book will be very helpful for others! I didn't notice any errors in the section I read.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 5:30 pm by unamilagra.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

CrescentMoon

56447
After reading the blurb, I don’t think I would pick this book up because I typically read fiction books like action, adventure and mystery. This book seems more geared towards those looking for some motivation and inspiration. After reading the first ten pages, I didn’t see any spelling or grammar errors. I thought it was well written so far but I wasn’t really a fan of the tone. I thought the author came across sounding kind of arrogant bragging about how he became a millionaire at 28 and now married and father of kids. However, I also understand that this book is a way for him to vent about his traumatic childhood and less than stellar upbringing. I definitely commend him for being able to overcome such adversity. He was overweight, had an addiction to cigarettes and I think it’s amazing how he turned his life around so he’s definitely someone to look up to. I don’t think this book is for me though. I think people who find themselves in a slump and need motivation to get up and move forward would benefit from reading this.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 1:33 pm by CrescentMoon.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Scerakor

45879
From the cover, blurb, and review of this book, I wouldn’t have read it. I don't read memoirs about personal journeys from rags to success. After reading the first ten pages I didn’t change my mind and therefore will not be buying and reading the rest of this book. I appreciated, that in the beginning chapter entitled blue collar beginnings, the author emphasized his path to success was based on hard work and not by handouts. That being said, I dislike these kinds of memoirs and wouldn't pay for it. I didn’t see anything specific that I would have wanted to change within the sample that I read, but it did seem well written and edited. The official review did not affect my decision at all.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 9:39 am by Scerakor.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Juliana_Isabella

1210914
I wouldn't have chosen this book because I don't read fiction, but I was intrigued by the author's life story, which was described in the review. I found one grammatical mistake in the first ten pages. In the sentence "my name is Ace and I am going to tell you the complete story of my journey", there should be a comma after "Ace". Although the author's rags-to-riches story is inherently interesting, he spends the first pages talking generally about his life instead of starting at the beginning and progressing to the end like most stories. Because of this, he couldn't hold my attention, and I won't finish the book.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 7:09 am by Juliana_Isabella.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Nisha Ward

1192566
While I did like the way Mr. Bowers related his story, particularly how he felt as a child living in poverty and the shame that came with it when he changed schools and neighbourhoods to a more affluent area, I don't think I'll continue this. The review indicates that it's a quality book but it didn't capture me the way I need self-help books/memoirs to in order to want to read further. There is an audience for it, and it is well edited, but it's just not for me.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 6:35 am by Nisha Ward.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Lorraine De Vos

140922
I would have chosen to read this book based on the reviews I read. After reading the first ten pages, I definitely think I would enjoy the book. The author writes from a raw and emotional place and really bares his soul to give the reader a complete understanding of where he came from. It could not have been easy to be so completely open about something he chose to hide for such a long time. I do find inspiration and motivation from these kinds of memoirs. The book does appear to be professionally edited, as I did not notice any errors. The official OnlineBookClub review was excellent and confirmed that I would like to add this book to my reading list. I don’t think this book requires any improvements.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 5:04 am by Lorraine De Vos.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

va2016

119030
The cover and the title are indicative of the theme of the book. There are around 60 Amazon customer reviews of the book. The Amazon summary of the book gives a clear description of the theme of the book. As I am interested in the story how the author went from a janitor to a millionaire, I would have sampled the book even if not for the First Ten program. As I sampled through the book, I found the narration describing the childhood days of the author. The portions of the writing about how the author's parents were alcoholic and how they were always fighting were very sad to read about. But, as indicated in the plot of the story in the Amazon summary, the author outgrows all that and gets transformed into a mindset which would make them a millionaire, and that's what I am interested to read about. So, I am going to read the book in full. I found the sample professionally edited. There are no mechanical or grammatical errors. What I liked about the book is its theme of motivation. I could not find anything that could be improved with the book. Although I found 10 OBC reviews on the book, my decision to read the book in full is based on my own sampling.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 4:55 am by va2016.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Gravy

60847
I enjoy memoirs, but not *usually* this kind of memoir. It's just too close to a self-help type for me. Because of this, I would not have sampled it, and the sample did not change my mind.
I didn't notice any errors. The writing is perfectly fine, and I didn't notice anything that needs changed.
I have to say that I find the premise a little off-putting. What the author describes is...mild. At worst, his childhood circumstances seem to have been upper lower class. I mean, granted, still not a pleasent upbringing, especially with family problems, but the author seems to believe (or wants others to believe) that this example is of the worst possible circumstances. (Granted, this is all based on my limited knowledge of the book, but given the selling point/premise I expected something closer to homelessness, etc.) Lots of people would gladly have had his childhood, including going to schools in better areas, where the education would have been better than other, low income areas...meaning he did have some advantages.
I also have a hard time respecting anyone who doesn't freely admit that luck/good fortune *always* plays a part in success. As the author admits in the first few pages, he 'somehow ended up rubbing elbows with white collar millionaires.'
Because of the author's seeming mindset of 'I did it all myself, I had no help, anyone could do what I did if they wanted to/tried' I will not be reading this.
I respect the author for pulling himself above his beginnings, and I freely admit that, regardless of any advantages involved, it is still an accomplishment. I just think the angle from which this book is being advertised is somewhat reaching. There was a review for this book, but that has no affect on my opinion, and due to the specific issues I have with this book, I would not recommend it.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 4:34 am by Gravy.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Emy Katherine

94929
I am not a fan of memoirs, so I would not have chosen to read the book without The First Ten program. I did not change my mind after reading both the sample and the OBC review. In his work, "The Mindset," Ace Bowers shares how motivation, perseverance, and willpower helped him overcome his personal struggles and achieve success. What I liked most was the author's writing style; it was clear, simple, and pleasant to read. I also appreciated the book was professionally edited; I did not find any typos or grammatical errors. Honestly, I admire the author for sharing his story and wanting to help people find hope and motivation in difficult times, but I am not interested in this book. Those who are interested in inspirational stories and need encouragement in life will absolutely appreciate this thought-provoking book.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 3:46 am by Emy Katherine.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Cristina Chifane

418146
I'm not a reader of inspirational memoirs, so I wouldn't have sampled this book without the first ten program. Both the cover and title are simple, but eye-catching. Ace Bowers' personal transformation from janitor to millionaire seemed like just another version of the American Dream stereotype. People still believe it, though, considering the favorable editorial and customer reviews on Amazon. I liked the author's honesty in the pages I've read. I agree with him that the key to success is an unrelenting motivation and a steady mindset that could help you overcome any obstacles in the way. I couldn't find any editing errors in the sample. It was a quick and engaging read. I didn't expect it, but the author's brutal honesty made me want to read more. I wouldn't necessarily call this book inspirational, as the OBC reviewer did. I'd call it a reality check and we all need one from time to time.

First Ten review added on June 20, 2019, at 2:26 am by Cristina Chifane.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

evraealtana

1255476
I would not have chosen this book for myself, since I strongly dislike memoirs. Having read the first ten pages, I have not changed my position; not only do I dislike it because of its genre, but I also found the narrator to be somewhat arrogant in his "selling" of the book, which irritated me. The book did seem professionally edited, and I saw no errors. I thought the hook about how the author became "a millionaire at 28" was compelling, and I might have read it if it had been a self-help book or a simple novel. The book did have an official OBC review.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 10:00 pm by evraealtana.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Jsovermyer

1045410
The cover is very plain, but I like the title, The Mind Set. It would cause me to take a second look at the book. This compelling memoir tells how the author overcame his poor, abusive childhood to have a prosperous and successful career. He broke the cycle of his parents' alcoholism and bettered himself. This book is interesting and inspirational. My favorite part is a quote at location 112, "nothing is ever a waste of time if you learn something from it." This is a good rule to live by. Mr. Bowers writes about hearing his parents' fights when he was a young boy and about his mother waiting for his father's unemployment check. This brought back memories of my own childhood. The official review rated this book highly, and I agree that the information in the book is valuable and useful to alot of people. I didn't find any spelling or grammatical errors and believe that this book has been professionally edited. I liked what I read so far and would like to hear more about how the author changed his life for the better. I would like to finish this book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 9:47 pm by Jsovermyer.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

AA1495

104697
Had I not sampled the book, I would not have read it. I do not usually read memoirs. Further, I thought that the cover was extremely simple (with white text against a plain red background). Having read the sample, I liked how the author included positive reviews of the book in the beginning. I thought that the introduction was brief but effective. Also, I liked how the author introduced himself and his family. I genuinely felt bad for the author when he described his housing situation and his parents' drinking habits. In terms of formatting, I liked how there was enough line spacing between paragraphs. It made the sample simpler to read. I found no major grammatical errors in the sample. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be buying the book today.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 9:33 pm by AA1495.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

LV2R

708077
The title was interesting to me, but the cover was quite plain. The Amazon Blurb summarized the book well describing Bowers as growing up in a “poor, alcoholic, and abusive family,” uneducated, overweight, addicted to cigarettes, in debt, and in depression. Bowers changed his mindset and in five years changed “from trash to technology”. This interested me to read the sample. Bowers summarized his life and started to describe growing up in a poor family. I best liked that Bowers had the motivation to break his cycle of poverty and to have a strong mindset. He changed his thinking, attitude, outlook, and habits. I think that is very inspirational to change the way we think to accomplish anything. The book seems to be edited well, as I did not notice any errors. The OBC reviewer shared that a seemingly bad event may be the catalyst for a change. I like that thought. I want to read this book to know about Bowers journey from a janitor to a millionaire. I like his writing style and openness about his life.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 9:03 pm by LV2R.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

lisalynn

1211288
"Nothing is ever a waste of time if you learn something from it." This little nugget from Chapter One is enough to make me want to read more of the book. Ace Bowers writes in an honest style, sharing the hardships of his childhood and his path to adulthood and ultimately satisfaction with his life. Usually, memoirs such as this are simply an ego trip for the author. Bowers admits that this book is a way for him to face the facts of his life, things that had spent years buried in his psyche. The first ten pages are engaging and interesting—a cut above most entries into this crowded genre. Neither the cover nor the blurb caught my interest, but after sampling the first ten, I'd like to read the rest. I didn't see any errors. No OnlineBookClub review influenced me.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 9:01 pm by lisalynn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

sarahmarlowe randomeducator

812327
The plain cover wouldn't have caught my attention, but it is professionally done. The sample flowed well and was full of good description. I did find a few comma issues, like this one: "My mother (comma) on the other hand, is his polar opposite." (36% of sample) The author discusses growing up not only poor, but poor first among middle-class kids, and then among the very wealthy. I'm sure his climb to the top of the money food chain is full of interesting stories! I will not be reading this book, but I don't read a lot of memoirs. I have not read an OBC review.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 8:45 pm by sarahmarlowe randomeducator.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

HRichards

741384
I normally wouldn't have picked this book up because I'm not really wild about memoirs. Having read the sample, I won't be continuing on with the book because I didn't really find it interesting. The sample deals with the author talking about their early life and their blue collar background. They talk about how their upbringing was fairly poor. The writing is pretty good and I didn't notice any grammar errors. Those who like memoirs or self help books might like this book. I wasn't really interested in the content. I have not read any other reviews of this book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 8:43 pm by HRichards.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

CataclysmicKnight

67089
The cover of this book is eye-catching but plain, and the title text has a weird "old-school 3D without the glasses on" look to it. As such, I probably wouldn't have given the book a second glance if it wasn't the book of the day.

So far I'm relating to this book incredibly well. The author discusses his childhood and the poverty his family faced, and that's definitely something I understand well. Luckily my parents weren't alcoholics and didn't fight like his, but the rest really hit home.

I'm definitely curious about how the author turned his life around so drastically, and I like that the book is just over 100 pages long. The lack of grammatical errors was great too! If the book wasn't free I wouldn't buy a copy, but because I won a copy from today's giveaway I can see finishing it sometime.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 7:32 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kelyn

741624
Had I not been a part of this program it is unlikely that the title, author, cover, genre or customer reviews would have led me to pick up this book. The author is an unknown for me, the cover doesn't attract my eye and the genre isn't one I normally am into. As far as reading the sample goes, although I did find the author's story interesting and touching, especially because I am always one to support the underdog, it did not succeed in making me want to continue and read the rest of the book. The main reason, as I stated above, is that I normally don't read memoirs. I usually end up finding them boring and, unfortunately, in my mind that has transferred itself into having doubts about the entire genre. The sample was a part of his life that was unfortunate and bestirred sadness. I really can't say that I had a favorite part. The book seemed professionally edited. I found no errors.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 7:05 pm by Kelyn.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

OliviaLouise

1275066
This book does not appeal to me before or after the sample. The title made me feel vaguely appreciative of the author’s success, but once I started reading the book I swiftly lost interest. The writing style is not very polished, and overall feels like it could have used more revision. For example, this sentence from loc 99 of the sample sounds awkward, as though it needs a stronger verb: “I was a boy born into blue collar beginnings.” Another sentence at loc 103 demonstrated an occurrence of the author’s usage of phrases in nonconventional ways that are not innovative, but instead make it seem as though he doesn’t know how to use them: “This motivation would fuel my determination to break my cycle of poverty.” Although I cannot explicitly state that these are editing errors, I can say that writing style is important to me and this feels rough. I am not interested in continuing tobread the book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 6:49 pm by OliviaLouise.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Chelsy Scherba

75151
I was very moved by the author’s description of his childhood. He endured a lot of shame over his parents’ fighting and drinking habits and terrible money management. It’s really quite amazing that he was able to go to school with the children of wealthy families. I felt saddened for his experience at the bank when his mother collapsed and cried because she couldn’t get any money and the patrons just stared at her judgementally instead of offering her help. It’s incredible to note that he went from a janitor to a millionaire in just five years and was only 28 years old. I’m very impressed and curious to know more. The book is impeccably edited with no errors thus far. The review was positive and made me interested in learning more about the author’s rags to riches story. I look forward to reading more.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 6:23 pm by Chelsy Scherba.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Catherine Hsu

104096
If I had not read the sample, I would not have read the book. The cover is a little boring to me, and I do not really read this genre. After reading the sample, I have changed my mind. I really like that the writing style is detailed but also fast in explaining the author's childhood. I also live near Mountain View, where he grew up, so I feel some connection to the story. The book was professionally edited. I did not read the official review but that did not affect my decision.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 5:37 pm by Catherine Hsu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Kajori Sheryl Paul

997537
'The Mindset' is a book written by Ace Bowers. The title, blurb, and cover did a good job at convincing me to give this book a try.

The first ten pages leads me to believe that it is memoir. It talks about the journey of the author from a janitor to a millionaire. Bowers was born in a blue-collar family who were barely scraping by. He spent most of his childhood trying to hide his situation from his friends. I like the way he said that nothing goes to waste if we learn something from it. I did not find any error. Hence, I consider it to be professionally edited. I will give this book a try as I am interested in the author's story.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 5:11 pm by Kajori Sheryl Paul.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

lavellan

403587
I probably would have not read The Mindset if it had not been a part of The First Ten program. While the Book of the Day review was positive, I was not interested in the subject matter. The book seemed like it was professionally edited and I did not notice any errors while reading. I liked the author's honesty when detailing his childhood. It was heartbreaking to hear about when the bank wouldn't deposit his father's unemployment check. I didn't like how the book did not offer any new insight into the subject of financial success. He just mentioned in vague terms that he was wealthy now, but did not describe what his profession was. As a result, I will not buy the book today.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 4:13 pm by lavellan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Niv123

1235868
I had a few pre-conceived notions about what this book was going to be about but I did not expect this! Just the first few pages were so touching and tugged at my heart-strings! At first glance, the book looks like it's going to be purely motivational and would probably just consist of a few tips and tricks about living life, but the autobiographical essence is so captivating. I love the easy way the author writes as well. And it also seems well edited. I can't wait to finish this book!

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 4:06 pm by Niv123.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Sarah_Khan

89585
At first glance, I would not have picked up this book because I am not a fan of self-help books or memoirs. The first ten pages seemed well-edited. Personally, I did not read anything that made me think this book would be different from the millions of other rag to riches stories. On a positive note, the author has an easy-going way of telling his story, so I did not even notice the pages flying by. I did not read any OBC review because I knew it would not change my mind.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 3:26 pm by Sarah_Khan.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Laura Ungureanu

620179
I wasn't going to take a look at this book because of the cover. It's too simple, so I expect the story to be uninteresting. I was surprised when I saw in the review that the story is actually a touching one. What I liked about this book is that the author keeps his modesty. He never forgets where he started and it makes his achievement feel even better. In more than half the memoirs, authors tend to forget that and the reader can't empathise with the author. Ace seems like a good storyteller. However, I'm not used to reading memoirs and I won't start now. I didn't find any grammar errors.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 2:11 pm by Laura Ungureanu.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Sonya Nicolaidis

1005818
I was quite keen to read this book based on the eye-catching title and plain red cover. It looked like a no-nonsense, self-help guide to achieving financial wealth, and I’m always interested in this topic. The reviews were very positive and mentioned a memoir type of book, rather than a list of suggestions, which I liked the idea of. I was sympathetic to the author for his difficult and dysfunctional childhood which he writes about in the sample, but I do feel he emphasizes money a little too much. There must have been some good times as well, in spite of the problems, and I felt these would have been worth mentioning so as to keep a balance in the book. Nevertheless, it seems he was badly affected by his parents’ drinking and their inability to provide, and he let this define him. I liked the pleasant, informal writing style of this author, and found it very easy to read this sample. I noted only one error where he uses the term ‘bated breath’, but spells the word ‘baited’. I found the content of this sample a little too negative and depressing for me right now, so I will not be reading this book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 2:09 pm by Sonya Nicolaidis.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kelsey Hatch

1296448
Had I not sampled the first ten pages but only read the blurb and title of this book, I would not have picked it up. I am not generally interested in financial success stories. The official review got me interested, however, as it praised the ideas and inspiration of the book. After reading the first ten pages in the sample, I was mildly intrigued, but unimpressed by the dramatic and self-praising language of the author. I found it to be a little over-the-top, detracting from the severity of the author's situation. This was the part I disliked most. I most liked the Introduction's contents, as they gave a clear synopsis of the book and what to expect along the way. I believe the book was professionally edited, as I noticed no spelling or grammar errors in the first ten pages. Due to my disinterest in the language and genre, I will not be buying and reading this book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 1:21 pm by Kelsey Hatch.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Mai Tran

1025684
I’d have read this book even without the program because it sounds like an inspirational short read. I understand why the author felt the need to hide how poor his family was from friends at school because a friend of mine was exactly the same. I feel like I could relate to his story because of that. The narrative is direct and very easy to follow, which I really enjoy. The book also seems professionally edited. I’d love to purchase and read the rest of this book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 12:13 pm by Mai Tran.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

gen_g

697597
I have not come across reviews of the book; it also seems professionally edited. I like how the author's drive is portrayed excellently in the book - telling the reader about his humble beginnings as a janitor earning the minimum wage (at 6 bucks per hour) to his success today (as a successful millionaire happily married with children). The fact that his brother's handcuffing led to the change he had during his formative years is also intriguing. I have no suggestions for improvement. However, I will not be purchasing this book, as I'm not currently in the market for self-help.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 11:59 am by gen_g.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

desantismt_17

604219
This book’s title made me curious. The description didn’t really hook me. I don’t usually enjoy memoirs. Before sampling, I wasn’t thinking about reading. After sampling, I’ll pass. The book appears professionally edited. I noticed no errors. I will say that the juxtaposition of the author going from a poor teenager working as a janitor to a millionaire (at only age 28, as I learned in chapter one) caught my interest. Overall, though, the book doesn’t quite grab me enough. I do appreciate the author’s willingness to share the “overcomers mindset.” This is an attitude I’ve seen work for many people, and I like the name given it here. The writing also flowed well. Really, I have no improvements to suggest. The OnlineBookClub.org review was glowing. This just isn’t my kind of book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 11:55 am by desantismt_17.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Kristy Khem

533451
The cover design didn’t appeal to me, but the blurb and title were encouraging. There were several positive reviews and ratings on Amazon which further encouraged me to read The Mindset. Therefore, I would have chosen to read it. The sample began with a retelling of the author’s childhood days. His story was relatable because I also grew up poor. Although he lives in America and I live in the Caribbean, I too remember my family living paycheck to paycheck. Like him, I could also tell how far away from payday we were by the kind of dinner we had. Like him, I’ve eaten lots of hot dogs with white bread instead of buns as a child. The author’s mom sounds like a unique person. She was described as a ‘free-spirited, non-judgemental, stereotypical 60’s hippie with olive skin and an aversion to shoes’. She reminds me of my grandmother who I call ‘Nanny’ just like the author referred to his own grandmother! I’m interested to read about how Ace Bowers broke his family’s cycle of poverty, so I will buy and read this book. I saw no errors in the sample so I think it was edited professionally. This book was also rated 4/4 by the review team so I know it will be worth reading.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 11:49 am by Kristy Khem.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Delaney35

1181892
This isn't a book I would consider reading without this program. I am not that into self-help books, though it was enjoyed by the official reviewer. The first few pages described the author's start, as growing up in a blue-collar family, to his rise to the world of white-collars. He said his rise was not due to luck or a fancy degree. It was about his mindset. His childhood home was not the best environment. His parents fought, and there was a lot of stress because of their poverty. At times he was ashamed his family was so poor. All this drove him to want more, to want a better life. In the first few pages, I didn't notice any grammatical issues. Overall, I will not be finishing this book. I felt like the author was a bit boastful, claiming that his rise to money was only based on his determination. I feel like that's a bit too egotistical and I don't really care to hear the rest of it. Additionally, I don't like self-help books too much to begin with. Considering all that, I will not be finishing this book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 11:24 am by Delaney35.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Heidi M Simone

76506
Without this program, I would not have sampled this book. I don't really read stories in which people describe how they've become successful. Therefore, the title, genre, and blurb would not have piqued my interest. Also, I find the cover to be somewhat bland. The positive OBC and customer ratings do not affect my opinion of the book. I didn't see any glaring errors while I read, which is always great in any book. I agree with the author about the outlook of mindset. A positive mindset and motivation can get a person pretty far in life. The author's ability to be open about his unstable home life growing up is amazing, and I'm sure will reach many out there who perhaps experienced a similar situation. Can't even imagine how it must it felt for the author, as a child, to finally realize how different his friends' families lived compared to his. I had a similar situation where I suppressed something from my family and felt embarrassed growing up, so this feeling will sure be relatable to others out there. Though the author writes in a compelling way, I'm afraid I'm not invested enough to want to continue. Therefore, I do not plan on buying and reading the book.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 11:19 am by Heidi M Simone.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Stephanie Elizabeth

946569
Had I not sampled the first ten pages of this book, I don't think I would have read it because I thought it would be another step-by-step guide on how to get rich. After reading the sample I will continue reading because I connected with the character and his story of growing up in poverty.
The book is well edited and I didn't find any errors. My favorite part was when the author describes being a teen and being horrified when his mother's car died right in front of his highschool. I certainly felt his dread. I think the book could be improved by changing the cover to something more eye-catching. Maybe add a picture of the character as a boy and then a recent picture that shows his wealth. The book has an official OnlineBookClub review.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 10:02 am by Stephanie Elizabeth.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

gali

50066
I wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as I don't read memoirs. I didn't change my mind after sampling the book. The author recounts his transformation from janitor to millionaire, details his tumultuous childhood, and explains how changing his mindset enabled him to turn his life around and get out of poverty. I was touched when the author related how he had to hide his tough home life from his peers to avoid their scorn. I like his openness and admire his achievements. However, while I find his story impressive, I am not fond of rags-to-riches stories. According to the reviews, the author focuses mainly on his traumatizing childhood but don't share the steps he took to improve his circumstances. Adding this to the memoir would have enchanted its appeal. I didn't notice any glaring errors, always a plus. I won't read the book, as it isn't my cup of tea. The official review didn't sway my decision either way.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 9:44 am by gali.
Do you plan to read the whole book? No

Theresa Moffitt

857578
I like the title of this book and the color really stands out to me. I would have picked this book up based on the cover alone. I haven’t read a review of this book yet. The first ten pages drew me in to the author’s story of his life. He explains how being motivated changed his life. He was working as a janitor for 6 dollars an hour and became a millionaire by being motivated. The first chapter explains his early life with his parents and being poor. He details their lives living paycheck to paycheck. It hasn’t gotten to the point in the story that explains how he changed his life. I would like to learn more about his story and the changes he made in order to succeed financially. I will finish reading this book. I didn’t see any errors in the first ten pages, so I believe the book was professionally edited.

First Ten review added on June 19, 2019, at 9:44 am by Theresa Moffitt.
Do you plan to read the whole book? Yes!

Total ~ 43%

The Mindset earned a score of 43%.

In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 43% plan to read the whole book.

IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.

Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.

Go to main Bookshelves page for The Mindset